shaboom shaboom

is it bad when you realize you have been obsessing over the same few "character flaws" for at least 80% of your waking day?

I either need a hobby or a coke habit.

why don't my parents ever listen to their voice mail? Don't they know I leave a message because I want to communicate something? And they want to get a computer...don't know if they're ready for that kind of responsibility yet...

I love to laugh at how poorly Portlanders drive in the semi-snow conditions, but not while I'm driving with them. They make me angry in that irrational, throw shoes out the car window sort of way.

Did anyone catch the state of the union address this evening? Does anyone even care any more?

And if anyone has a cure for an HGTV addiction, please send suggestions to "my husband has an HGTV addiction, PO Box 2muchtv, our house 24/7" Thanks!

whatcha got in that bottle there, mister?

In need of enlightenment? Thirsty? What if you could quench both desires at once? Try Holy Bottled Water! Yes, living water can now be found on your supermarket shelves for your shopping convenience. See this for an article published in Newsweek.

I particularly enjoyed the comment about how this new "product" helps save the planet because who would want to throw a bottle away with a picture of Mary or Jesus emblazoned on is front?

And I thought marketing couldn't get any more corrupt...

cut the grass

Okay, it's been almost two weeks since I started my new life as a working mommy. Full-time. There are definite benefits to working outside the home. One of those would be actually paying our bills instead of looking befuddled at my hard-working husband every month, wondering how exactly I had arranged the budget and lied to myself at the same time. Another nice thing is well, wearing things other than jeans, plain tees and socks all day. I like my two inch heel boots and hope to break into some three inch heel dress shoes soon, too. (which may require another separate blog if things go awry.)
My work place is busy but not so much that I find myself hiding in dark corners during crunch time. There is a steady stream of work, which I appreciate, and I find I am picking up on things relatively quickly-except for the devilish subtle differences between Medicare and Medicaid programs...
To address the flip side of working outside the home, for myself personally, I miss my girls! I miss-yes-doing laundry at 2 pm instead of always at 9pm until we close up the house for the night! I miss being able to play with them, ride their various temperament waves, and see the sunlight hitting the hardwood floors while Charlotte pulls all the books from the second row of our open bookshelf.
But, and here it is, a big one, the grass always seems greener on the other side. All my life I have escaped into that kind of thinking-I'm too short, tall girls have better lives, I'm too neurotic, calm people live longer, I'm not tan enough, tan girls look better in sleeveless dresses...you see where I'm going with this-this is only a smattering past thoughts...
Knowing this about myself, I have resolved to make an effort in the time I do have with my husband and children. Though it may be limited, you can pack a lot into a time slot if you are motivated by a desire to connect with your family and not by an overwhelming anxiety that you are a horrible parent, etc.
So we will see how things go-I'm not perfect-and even after 3 1/2 years I'm really not that experienced a parent. But I am expecting some good times, some laughter, and maybe even some "worms in dirt", a concoction very much desired by my 3 1/2 year old!

See you on this side of the fence, where the grass is quite water logged at the moment!
-E

Katmandu

Yes folks, from the family that brought you Mr. Kerouac cat, tragically killed by whom we can only assume was a pissy neighbor, and Piglet, that mentally unstable meow who managed to scale two feet up a window screen and escape, we are now proud to bring you mister no name kitty #3!!!

We have been talking about getting a new cat but I didn't want to be the one to pick him or her out because I am not in harmony with the great cat nature that is nice-kitty. No, I only seem to pick out the wackos and the ones channeling Hannibal Lector. So Zakk went to the Humane Society last week and spent some quality kitty check-out time in the "visiting rooms" and found this beautiful boy you see above. He is 2 years old, 11 lbs., all black with little white tufts in his ears. For those of you who remember Piglet, yes, this cat does have an actual tail, as well! He is a really sweet natured, gentle lovey cat. A little shy still-but no wonder with the noise we four make! He likes to snuggle and headbutt us for affection, and doesn't seem to want to eat my face off or slash through my ankles...which is a nice change. The only thing he's done so far besides keep to himself or cuddle and purr is eat a small bag of catnip he ripped up during the middle of the night-but who can blame him?

I am really happy to have a cat in the house again, and I think there can be some mutual lovin' now, instead of my misadventures in psychocat.

If you thought this was an absurd length to a "cat-devoted" blog, I apologize. But if you are still reading this, and I can only hope you are, any suggestions on a name?!!

New Year Thinking

Resolutions

1. Be nicer to myself

2. Go back to the gym.

3. Be more confident at work.

4. Nag less of the hubby

5. Call people. Period.

6. Buy some new shoes.

7. Meditate every day, at least for a couple minutes.

8. Swear less.

9. Make it onto "What not to wear" and win $5000 in new clothes.

10. Let a little more go that's weighing me down.